For the third consecutive offseason, the return of head coach Mike McCarthy was up in the air. Despite reports of the split coming down to a disagreement over the length of a new contract, owner Jerry Jones explained the inevitable split was made clear during end-of-season reviews, and the two did not discuss a new deal.
With a new head coach entering the picture in Dallas, there will be a ripple effect throughout the team. If it is the right change needed to finally put the Cowboys over the top will be something to monitor. But, with McCarthy out the door, one must immediately look at the impact on his remaining crew.
The Cowboys' coaching staff
The head coach has a significant say in the decision-making regarding his supporting staff. That means the trio of coordinators, offensive Brian Shottenheimer, defensive Mike Zimmer, and special teams John Fassel are up in the air. That doesn't mean they won't return, but it's up to Jerry and the new head coach.
When McCarthy arrived in Dallas, he opted to keep then-offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore, on the coaching staff. That came off a very successful 2019 season, and likely a push from Jerry himself. Still, if a coordinator aligns with the head coach's vision, they can stick around.
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Shottenheimer is more of a question mark, despite his recent success in Dallas and Seattle. He has not done enough to garner as much consideration as the previous two. Shottenheimer did not call plays with the Cowboys but did well in doing so with the Seahawks. His possible willingness to give up playcalling may make him a more favorable coordinator depending on the head coach.
The likelihood of all three returning is slim to none. Head coaches need to have deep trust in their staff, so they generally handpick their coordinators. One, if any, will return. The question is, who would it be, and who can step in?
As you go down to the positional, training, and equipment staff, things get more tricky. It's a mix of who knows who and performances. Their advantage is already being familiar with the current players. This all goes to mean, there are going to be a lot of new names in the Cowboys' organization. with few exceptions.
Dak Prescott and the offense
The centerpiece of every team, the quarterback, is impacted by virtually every aspect of the team, and vice versa. Dak Prescott and the offense as a whole played very well under the watch of McCarthy for five seasons.
It's almost fitting that the only two underwhelming regular seasons were when Dak missed a significant amount of time. That was this past season and in 2020, McCarthy's first and last season with the team.
It is a reasonable assumption that an offensive-minded head coach would be brought in to work with Dak to help the team win. Having a quarterback playing at his best and an offense playing well is a prerequisite to go all the way and win a Super Bowl.
Let's say a defensive head coach is brought in, that would likely put more responsibility in the hands of Dak. Entering his tenth season in the NFL, and having his fair share of success, Jerry may believe his quarterback is ready to take another step.
Taking the lead and running the offense himself can be the next step for the veteran quarterback. It's a privilege not many are given, but considering the ownership's confidence in him, and Dak's proven track record of being able to execute an offense at an elite level, it's a possibility.
How the new coaching staff operates the run game is also a critical factor. It pays off having a run game that can keep the offense balanced. Relying on Dak to carry the entire unit is asking a lot. A struggling offense will then put further pressure on the defense.
Wade Philips was the last defensive head coach for the Cowboys back in 2010. There also tend to be more offensive candidates than defensive candidates, making it more likely that the person picked for the job will be an offensive-minded coach. How they mesh with Dak and the current offensive players will be critical.
Players drafted under Mike McCarthy
Just like the coaching staff, new coaches could put players on rookie contracts in an uncomfortable spot. If a youngster is not performing well, they are more likely to be dealt with by the new staff rather than the staff that drafted them, especially if it's a high draft pick.
Coaching staff love to point to the previous staff where they can, giving them the excuse of cutting or trading a player they did not draft. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they have a long track record of drafting well. The downside is some players take more time to develop and may lose that chance.
Defensive linemen, Chauncey Golston and Osa Odighizuwa, are on expiring contracts. Osa has been a regular starter for the team since being drafted and was heavily used this past season, playing a career-high 860 snaps. Golston, on the other hand, only started seeing more opportunity and success this past season.
Their return is more uncertain with new coaches soon to enter the building. It's also worth wondering if a player like Golston would be given the chance he got under a different coaching staff, or if his tenure would be cut short.
In the last year of their rookie contracts, defensive end, Sam Williams, wideout, Jalen Tolbert, linebacker, Damone Clark, and tight end, Jake Ferguson could be under more pressure. One would expect Ferguson, a two-year starter, to be safe. The harsh reality is, no one is.
With the team still figuring out who their head coach will be, and in turn, coordinators for 2025, there's no direction yet for where the Cowboys will go. The upcoming 2025 NFL Draft and free agency will be the first true glimpse as the new staff brings on players that fit their style.
When there is a change in one spot, the ripples trickle down. With it being a prominent position like the head coach, that impacts a lot of areas of the team.
Despite anything that happens, one thing won't change. The rule of Jerry Jones and his family will continue to reign over the Cowboys. With six head coaching changes and countless others in the building and on the field since the 1996 Super Bowl win, the Jones family remains the only continuing factor of the Dallas Cowboys.
But hey, if nothing changes, nothing changes.